Most streets in the center of Athens were closed due to the conflict between police and students. According to sources of “Eleftheros Tipos” newspaper, the demonstration grew into a conflict when the police tried to move the demonstrators away from one of the central squares. Then, the students started throwing trash, oranges, and stones. Today, high school, university students and workers organized rallies all around Athens as a sign of protest against the murder of the 16 year old Alexis Grigoropoulos. At the same time, witnesses gave statements in front of the case investigators. The dean of the Athens University Hristos Kitas, turned to the politicians with appeal to “Sit down and discuss vital issues, which influence the educational system.” Also, he asked from the teachers to protect the university because the police is incapable to do it and not to let rioters into the buildings.

In a conflict between students and police, close to one university building, one policeman who was set on fire got hurt. Around 3:00 pm a group of students, who were participating in the rally, started throwing self-made bombs and stones at the police, who were trying to get to one of the buildings of the department of law. One of the bombs hit a policeman in the head, but thanks to the quick intervention of his colleagues, the flames were put out fast.

The week ends with the siege of many boulevards in Athens and stone attacks against police stations. The number of schools, which are occupied around the country exceeded 100. Occupied are also some departments of the Thessaloniki Aristotel University and around 20 schools around the city. In Thessaloniki there was a rally, which ended in front of the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace.

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, who is on a special visit in Brussels, said that “the problems of the young people should not be mixed with the disastrous mania, which has come over some people.” To the question whether there will be early elections, Mr. Karamanlis said that the country has a stable government, which has risen after the global crisis.

Later on, the students announced that they will continue their demonstrations until Christmas. In an attempt to start a discussion, Minister of Education Evripidis Stilianidis announced that an e-mail address has been created (fonitonmathiton@ypepth.gr), on which all students can express their opinions on the current issues.

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